Unplugged

I'm about to ramble. I'm feeling inspired enough to blog but not enough to put any effort into witty one-sided banter. I apologize in advance...read on if you want a boring, plodding update into my little world......but don't say I didn't warn you.

I unplugged this weekend. It felt good. Spent quality time with the trees, streams, rain, sun, stars and good friends. The key ingredients to my successful weekend included:

-kabobs
-whipped cream
-stargazing
-good and bad guitar playing
-morning rain and afternoon sun
-sleeping in
-winding trails

But apparently I missed some very important world news:

1.Susan Boyle did not win Britain's Got Talent, and has a mental breakdown. Which is too bad, because she seemed to be a shoe-in and I liked her. Hopefully she gets some kind of deal out of all the brouhaha she endured.

2. Reese Witherspoon is digging deep for her new role as a softball player. Goody - another over-paid actress does something for world peace.

3. Archie will be proposing to Veronica. Date the blonde, marry the brunette? Good thing my stylist is on speed-dial. Note to self - step it up and get those low-lites.

My weekend mailbox was full of surprises, mostly good ones. I say mostly, because bills are not surprises, right? I got new Fortune, Forbes and Sports Illustrated magazines (I subscribe to 6 different magazines in total, due to a very generous friend letting me use half of his airline miles). I also received a card from a friend, and more music from Kenny the Music Man. I'm now listening to some Viva Voce, and digging it very much. Thanks, KMac.

I went makeup free this weekend, and it was refreshing as hell. I think when you're lightly sunkissed, it makes up for the lack of foundation and blush and your mug doesn't look so barren. I might continue this trend into the work week - we'll see how this attitude fares at 8:00 tomorrow morning.

Another work week looms on the horizon. I should use another term besides "looms", as I like my job, and am happy to have one. I'll go with "shines". And since 4:30 a.m. is looming (correct verb in this instance), I guess I'll shut down this disappointing review.

I promise the next update will be more well-written. Spritely, even. And dare I say, entertaining?

Great Day

It's my birthday today. I don't feel older, I actually feel younger. And wiser. The last year has been challenging, and as the saying goes, you learn more about yourself during the tough times than you do in the calm times. And I'm sticking with that.

I received many celebratory shout-outs from friends and family today, some of whom I haven't heard from in a while. Chatting with my peeps throughout the day was better than any present I might have hoped for. To know that one person is thinking about you is lovely - that many have you in their thoughts is heartwarming.

To all of you who got at me today, thanks - you made my day!

My new coworker asked me how old I was, and I asked her to guess. She said late 20's. When I told her my real age, she demanded a look at my drivers license. If it wouldn't have been considered sexual harrasment, I might have kissed her.

I don't have a "on the day you were born" story like my friend HLD, because I was adopted when I was about six weeks old. But that's okay - I get to celebrate both, thanks to my family. I'll share that story on 7/9.

What did I do on my birthday? Got up and swam, went to work, caught up with good friends and family, and just finished kickboxing. I am looking forward to a shower, and watching very bad dance auditions on So You Think You Can Dance via Tivo. Yes, a little guilty pleasure on your birthday is warranted. And this is as guilty as I'm getting tonight.

My day was, in a word, perfect.

Pfftttt.

L&C is in 16 weeks.

Freaking out a bit. The long weekend screwed with me.

I lost steam. Stumbled. Let the rain get to me.

Up to 2.5 miles, seems like not enough. Right?

For my indoor workouts, I'm upping the incline to 2.

Hopefully that will help.

The pic is not me (obviously), but that's what I'm aiming for.

No, not aiming to be Asian.

Just a ripped, happy and dedicated runner, who runs so fast I have to close my eyes a little because of the inertia, which makes me LOOK Asian.

Ha.

World Extreme Cagefighting

This is what I'm watching.

The little guys (welterweights?) just finished their fight. It was like watching two little scrawny boys tussle over their Matchbox cars.

Now the bigger boys (featherweight) are fighting. They're bigger, and have more graceful and powerful moves. Some twirling (???). Massive punches. Faster kicks.

Plus, the names are awesome. Urijah 'California Kid' Faber vs. Jens 'Lil Evil' Pulver.

I may be hooked.

Just kidding.

early birthday meal

Went to Happy Joe's for an early birthday meal. Got the Taco Joe pizza sans tomatoes - delish. They have skeeball there, which I love to play and am very good at - we racked up about 50 tickets. Natch.

See below for an example of how to enjoy delicious Taco Joe pizza...

Hot Diggity - CONCERTS!!!!!!!!!!

Just when I thought my summer was looking low in the concert department, I stumbled upon two of my favorite artists that are comin' to town:

Greg Laswell (7/25, BBH)


Dar Williams (8/18, BBH)


Both performers are soulful performers, such a joy to watch and listen to. I've seen Dar, and it's like watching your best friend on stage...I can only imagine what it will be like to see Greg live. Probably amazing.

So excited...beyond happy. Add these to Rancid/Riverboat Gamblers & Gogol Bordello, and my summer looks a bit better in the concert department. I will be finishing with my classes around those dates, so all the more reason to celebrate.

This has been the best music-related week of 2009. And the best is yet to come!

WT...???

I had some really weird dreams last night. And no, I wasn't under the influence of anything. Well, I was if you count numerous glasses of Brita water....then ya, I was.

The first one was that I was trapped in an all-white room with two tigers. Live, feeroshus tigers. Roaring at me. Really, now...why?

I have had wild animal dreams in the past, the most memorable one involving the zoo letting all it's animals escape, and baboons are following me to my house. They have opposable thumbs, so I know that doorknobs can be compromised and that freaks me out. So, this new tiger dream (nightmare!) seems like a pattern.

Or it could be due to the fact that I have seen an ad for "The Hangover" numerous times, which involves a tiger, a man, and a locked bathroom.

The second dream was just as freaky - it revolved around me teaching little black girls how to swim after falling out of paddle boats at Forest Park. Foreshadowing? Hope not - that Grand Basin is stink-y.

I am going for a run tonight, hopefully that will tire me out enough so that my dreams aren't as memorable.

Coming Soon...

It came!

Got my special delivery today from my music man...six, count 'em, six sleek disks of aural pleasure. They came just in time because I'm bone dry in the tunes department.

I'm currently enjoying the sounds of:

Darker My Love
The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart
Handsome Furs
Data Rock
Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards
The Whigs

Outstanding!

Movie Review

ENLIGHTEN UP

This is what I would describe as "documentary-lite".

The premise of this film is that yoga can transform anyone. The filmmaker, Kate Churchill, sets out to prove her point. She's very determined to make this happen, which costs the film some credibility. She pushes, cajoles, accuses, and pouts (mostly off-camera, though sometimes on) throughout the movie, which takes away from the subject matter and made me really annoyed.

At the beginning of the movie, she shows a board filled with head-shots and short bio's of people who she is considering filming through their yoga-journey. We see men and women of varying sizes, ages, races. Who does she choose? Why, the cute 30-something Nick Rosen. Natch. This is where the film starts to lose credibility for me. Sure, he's eye candy, but can he hold my attention for the next 90 minutes?

Not so much.

He's really kind of a blank-slate slacker. He never really seemed excited about or interested in exploring the transformative reputation yoga has over thousands of people. He's currently an out-of-work journalist, so I got the feeling that this "journey" would be a nice segwey into his next assignment, and the pay would keep him afloat while allowing him a nice, long vacation. Win-win for both subject and filmmaker. Lose-lose for the viewer.

Technically speaking, there were some overly-long shots here and there which didn't make sense (had they run out of footage and were reaching?), and also some jarring cut-offs. The travel transitions were bone-shattering loud and visually shakey, so they must have saved some money to soup this up in post-production.

I did enjoy hearing the viewpoints from some of the yoga masters - it's all very existential and ethereal, and the transformation is ongoing and from within. Most made a point to say that Westerners believe the transformation on the outside brings about the change to the inside, which isn't the case in the East. Any transformation on the outside is an indirect side-effect from the inner-journey. I liked this.

I appreciated Nick for who he was - I never got the feeling he feigned interested for the camera, he seemed to stay true to his slacker nature, but I was bored listening to him after awhile. I cannot forgive the filmmaker for making what felt like a tangible push for change - she even turns the focus at the end of the movie on her, with a last tidbit of wisdom while she strikes a pose. Eh.

Good Day

Slept in...really, really late. I took the dude out at 4:30, but then crawled back under the covers and didn't emerge until 9:00. Yowza.

Spent a good hour at Tower Grove Park. Beyond lovely.

Swam at the Y. Had almost every lane to myself - a first. I think everyone was outside...

Caught up with good friends on the phone. I'm Facebooked out. May take a real break from that.

I'm no longer crabby. This is me, happy again.


Got my house in order, cooked up some tasty meals for the next few days. I'm now out of edamame.

Cleaned. Found a very cool pair of jeans way, way back in my closet that I'd forgotten I had. Dug deeper, and found some other gems in there as well. It's like I went shopping, but didn't. Gotta love that. :-)

I have a few more things to do before the sun sets, including a home-pedi, write on my other blog, and finish at least two chapters. Bound and determined. We'll see.

I did see the new documentary, Enlighten Up, yesterday. I'll review that later this week, but my advice in the short term is wait for the rental.

Namaste, peeps.

Ahhhh

Great morning already. Don't I look sweaty and unnaturally intense? :-)

Was at FP by 6 - hardly anyone in sight. There was a bootcamp in progress by the Muny, and Bark In The Park is setting up, but I never ran into anyone on my route. Except a homeless guy sitting by the stream.

Finished my run at 6:30, ran over to Soulard Market, picked up some fruits and veggies, then headed over to a friends for a quick breakfast. He got in at 3:00, and was trying to decide if he was still inebriated or hungover.

I beat the rain - hah!! Thought I might get caught in an errant shower, but dodged that bullet.

I am still crabby, though. Not a constant, just comes in waves. Hoping to shake it off soon.

Good Girl

That's what I was last night. My new job and successful semester were toasted, and I had to be there for that, but I called it a night after only one celebratory Jameson's 12-yr at the Dubliner.

It helped that I was super crabby and didn't want to be around anyone (this happens one day a month - it's my Angry K Day). I am waiting to hear how much fun Rue 13 80's Night was...assuming no one is up yet, or maybe they're just getting home.

It's already a gorgeous morning out...nice and cool, perfect weather for an early park excursion. I believe that's where I'm headed, once it gets a bit lighter out.

Multi!

I've been told a package is going in the mail today which contains new tunes, for me.

It's a multiple delivery, so this will be the first of who knows how many. I'm sure he'll keep 'em coming....

I'm so excited. I love getting multi's.

Outstanding.

A Good Start

It's already a good day. Dug up these little gems to start my day off right. Enjoy.

A night of finals (finales)

I just finished my two finals for this semester. The first one was way more difficult than expected, the second I'd liken to cake with frosting. Tasty cake - the kind with surprise filling. It was THAT special.

One of my classmates was awarded a very coveted internship at Wash U - that would be prestigious to have as part of your credentials on a PhD application. I'm checking that one out!

I haven't been out of class this early on a Thursday all year - the sun is up, it's gorgeous out, and I've got plans. Is the world round? I'll have to check and see if Rasputin predicted this....it's that amazing.

The Office, Greys Anatomy and RHONY finales are tonight - I love finales. Especially when they make sense. Lost did not. I am lost on Lost. Probably because I didn't watch last year, and have only caught a smattering of episodes this year. Oh well - the first two seasons were fun....I think.

Time to go. The wine is chilled, and my glass being filled as I type. Yes, it's a very technical skill I mastered in my undergraduate years....how to uncork, pour and type all at once.

I've got skillz, y'all.

Milestones

I've made some recent commitments, and am happy and terrified all at the same time.

One is a half-marathon. This takes place in September, so I have 18 weeks until d-day. This is a huge undertaking for someone who does not like running, and the furthest I've run is 8 miles, grudgingly all the way. Never did reach that elusive "runners high". I've experienced the high, but only during sprint triathlons. It's a good feeling. I want that again. But even if I don't, I will be happy to have this experience under my belt.

Another commitment is to accept a job offer that is, for all intents and purposes, a seemingly perfect fit. Outstanding benefits (4-weeks vacation, great health insurance, bonuses), very close to home, good salary, and challenging yet familiar. It's something I've been on the lookout for, and I had to jump on it, which meant leaving my most recent position. The extraction was amicable, and I have nothing but good things to say about my most recent employer. But with all new opportunities, you really don't know if it's a good fit until you get in there and start. So, I'm hoping for the best.

I've also committed to taking two classes this summer semester, which will feel like full-time. The Spring semester ends TOMORROW (yay!), and it's been tough. Tough due to the training, tests and schoolwork, but also because I was meeting with local universities to determine the best PhD program that matches my goals. I had also been doing a lot of reading outside of class to broaden my perspective on specific therapies (sex, PTSD, industrial/organizational). The summer semester is going to be killer, and I have designed a very strict schedule for June/July in order to devote enough time for studying, training, and sleeping. My ex has stepped up (as always) and will be taking Oliver for two days a week so I can take classes, and the pup gets the attention he deserves.

What I'm really looking forward to is August. No class, my mom is coming to visit, a 5k with my friend Margaret, and a trip to Chicago. But until then, it's head-down, blinders on, focus, determination, and activity.

House of Mirth

I had never read the book, by Edith Wharton, and made the assumption that the movie had a happy ending.

My mistake. I guess I've seen too many Jane Austen adaptations.

The short of it is:

-In the beginning she's well off.

-Then towards the middle of the movie, she is the center of scandal and her social position slips.

-She makes her aunt (benefactor) mad, who dies and leaves her with only enough money to repay her debts.

-Then, she has to take on lower-class jobs, becomes destitute, and an addict of sorts.

-In the end, she offs herself knowingly. She drinks too much chloral hydrate (sleeping elixir) directly after repaying her debt.

It was way too depressing, and a little sub-par as far as the acting and adaptation went. It was choppy and at certain points overdone.

Also, it kind of hit a little too close to home. Being out of work can make you feel desperate, alone, isolated - but I would never off myself with Nyquil.

Could have done without that downer.

Kinda Crazy

Here I go a rambling...

So I just found out I missed Asobi Seksu and Stella Mora play at the Firebird this past Saturday. I'm upset. I guess I need to keep my ears/eyes open to the Lou music scene.

I did manage to watch the movie "What We Do Is Secret", which is a splendid biopic about Darby Crash and his punk band The Germs. Shane West plays Darby. For someone I consider such a lightweight, I have to give him kudos for taking on a brooding punk icon. I thought he did a great job. I really didn't expect much, and was very satisfied by the end. Also, I kept thinking I was watching my old high school pal, David Strommen - at times, Shane West would give the screen a look that so closely resembled David it was darn spooky. In a good way!

The Living Things are playing at Off Broadway tonight - might be a good show. Tix are only a ten spot.

I spilled my juice in my elevator. Oliver got a bit of a treat as I ran for the paper towels.

After much contemplation, I have made a big decision. Weighed the pro's, the con's. Considering all of the pro's, it was still a difficult decision. I will blog more when the puzzle is complete.

I ran two miles today. Countdown to Tiger Tri is 14 weeks, Lewis & Clark Half is 18 weeks. I wish I had a dog to run with me - I asked Oliver and he said, "Hell no!".

I burned my hand in the oven. Again. I now have a small raised welt on the top of my right pinky and ring fingers. I am officially cordoning off the oven with crime scene tape until I learn the basic rule of heat = burn. The half-moon scar on the top of my right hand is now a nice shade of pale pink, but the apostrophe-shaped burn on my left thumb still looks medium-rare.

A carton of 18 eggs at Walmart is only $1.66. I bought five. BFL.

Tonight I will be studying for my finals, and on breaks will be watching the House of Mirth, staring Gillian Anderson of X-Files fame. My ex calls these types of movies "frilly vag" or "scrumpets and teetle" movies. He can suck it, because they rock.

He May Be A Cat...

Sometimes Oliver acts like a cat - he will climb up on the long length of window sill and fall asleep, or he might curl up on top of the sofa and nap (see above). He also likes to jump from the arm of the couch to the arm of the chair, and then walk on the back of the chair behind me and sit.

Weirdo - but I love him.

Mother's Day

A few recollections about my mom, Diane Whiting, on this Mother's Day:

1. My mom used to record my brother and I on one of those old cassette tape recorders with a plug-in mic when we were babies/toddlers. She brought these cassettes on her last visit, and my ex digitized them and burned them to CD. I love listening to her voice, so soothing, trying to coax my brother and I to sing, talk, and generally behave. It was so sweet.

2. My mom always made sure that my brother and I didn't go without - even on the extravagant things. My first bed was a white canopy bed with pink accents. It was awesome - I had many fun afternoons hanging my Barbies from the canopy, playing Trapeze or Hangman. We always got new clothes for each school year, and got to take Fruit Roll Ups for breaktime at school, and she paid extra so I could get the chocolate milk. She would drop me off at the rollerskating rink, and pick me up before Late Skate (nope, never did get to stay).

3. My mom went all out for holidays. We always had amazing Easter Egg hunts, tons of presents under the tree at Christmas, and surprises from the Leprechauns (usually Mint Dilly Bars from DQ).

4. My mom is a big believer in turtlenecks. Which made sense due to the fact that we were living on the frozen tundra. Almost every winter morning, I had to help my mom get her sweaters/turtleneck on over her head because she didn't want to mess up her hair. This is a good memory for me - sometimes we would laugh at our incredible efforts.

5. My mom worked full-time, and managed the household on her own. I became the lucky (yes, very lucky) product of a single-parent family when I was six years old. I am very happy that it was just me, my mom and my brother. I never felt like we were missing out on having a traditional family. If I could go back and change it, I'd pass.

Happy Mother's Day, mom. I wish I was there to celebrate with you.

Oliver Got His Herr Did

Oliver was looking a bit scraggly. Well, more than a bit. A lot. I let his winter coat grow, and grow, and grow. And now that it's getting warm out, it was time for a haircut.

I took him to a new groomer, the 12th Street Animal Hospital on Tucker and 12th, which used is the old Creepy Crawl location. Since Oliver has a punk rock soul (feisty, a real pal to his mates, and is pretty against authority), I thought it was a fitting venue, even if it's changed.

He wanted a mohawk, but he came to the conclusion that it's not about what you look like that makes you a punker - it's all in the attitude. So he want balls to the wall and took it all off.

Here he is before:


And here he is today:

X-Men: Origins - in 30 seconds

I saw this clip here. I am still laughing. Enjoy.

Sheesh

After feeding Oliver, I got ready to go to the gym, and made the mistake of sitting down at the computer to check my FB.

After finishing a new post, replying to messages, and doing a bibliography search, it is now 5:40 and I have missed my window of opportunity for going to the gym.

Damn the internets. Damn Al Gore.

I guess I'll just go on a short run. The weather's perfect for it. I hope I don't get shot.

Brandt's Revisited

Earlier this week, I wrote about my recent terrible experience at Brandt's Cafe in University City. I also posted a review on Yelp.com.

I received an email today that I had a message on my Yelp account. I logged on, and found that the Executive Chef, Ben Welch, had responded to my review.

This is what he had to say:

As the Chef at Brandt's I take full responsibility for your less than appropriate meal on cinco de mayo. I had all intentions of trying to provide a somewhat "authentic" soft taco ( just providing onion, cilantro and lime). Unfortuanetly in this case it didn't go over well. I will make no excuses for the fat on the chicken or the "fragile" tortillas. We failed you miserably on those. I assure you that i took your comments (left on the bill, those repeated from the server and your blog) very seriously. Everything was corrected abruptly.

The menu has changed and for that matter gotten smaller with the hopes of providing diners a meal that can focus more on quality than quantity.

I hope that this meal won't keep you from returning to give the menu a chance. We at brandts take blogs, reviews and/or comments in general very serious as we continue our "rebirth" of Brandts. hope you understand that ours is a work in progess and we will continue to make mistakes but will do everything possible to listen to our guests to provide this community with the type of establishment that everyone knows and expects from Brandts.

thanks for your time and consideration,

Ben Welch
Executive Chef
Brandt's Cafe
_____________________________________

I appreciate that he responded and took ownership of their shortcomings - that, to me, says a lot about how they want to be perceived. But they stopped short of reimbursing me for the money I wasted on an extremely sub-par meal, or offering some sort of restitution. So, they're customer service is still lacking.

I think it's a smart thing to realize the power of social media, and how fast word of mouth can spread with help from blogs, online reviews, Twitter, Facebook, etc.

A couple things:

1. I liked the old menu, BECAUSE it had many choices. I will miss their Mediterranean platter, their variety of salads, and many other items. A smaller menu does not mean that the food gets better - case in pont, my latest dining experience. I'd never had a problem with the food from the old menu - it was phenomenal. Every season, they would add great new dishes, and never bombed. Why fix it if it ain't broke?

2. I had hoped they would address the fact that when a customer states that they've just had the most awful dining experience at their restaurant, the wait staff would be more proactive in solving the problem. While I'm not sure if my waiter was new, he didn't take any action until I spelled it out for him. And the action he took was to shield any future customers from that awful experience, but that does nothing for me...

3. I still think I should have been comped. Yes, it was a measly $7.89, but in this economy, every penny counts.

Will I go back to Brandt's? If they offered me a free meal and proved to me that it's worth going back, I will give them a chance. Otherwise, I'll think back fondly on all of the good meals I had there, and chalk it up to another good restaurant bites the dust.

Speaking of Spit...

I saw this band in NYC at a club called Sine. It was my first trip to NYC, with KennyMac. We didn't immediately venture into the crowd as it was completely crazy and there was broken glass all over the floor. Instead, we perched on a couple stools at the bar, and when this obliterated guy kept ordering multi Pabst for his pals, we would take a couple, and that kept us going through the show. We eventually wandered down to the front, and it was complete chaos and fun.

The energy was great - for my first NYC show, I don't think it could have been any better. The band wore bags on their heads, paper grocery bags, and looked like a bunch of Unknown Comics from the Gong Show.

Outstanding.

Spit

I saw this recent post on this blog.

It reminded me of something certain people in my family do when they want to claim food like, say, a donut. But instead of spitting, they lick the wanted item.

Yup, they lick it.

There have been a couple times that licking the donut hasn't worked, and it was consumed by someone else.

Because sometimes, especially in a family, a lick does not a claim make.

Titles

I recently interviewed at an ad agency, and spent almost three hours getting to know my interviewers, the culture of said agency, their client roster, and their grand plan. I wouldn't even call it an interview - it was more of a conversation, and it was one of the most genuine and thought-provoking ones I've had in ages. Kind of hated to leave.

If there's one thing that stood out during those three hours, it was how they structure their team. They only hire senior people, and therefore don't see a need for high-falutin' titles (their words, not mine).

This I like. Simple, to the point. I've seen businesses leaner than theirs get bogged down in ego-tripping title battles, such as "Sr. Director of Accounts" or "Sr. VP and Creative Director". Those monster titles ooze self-importance and seem so out of touch with the where the industry is headed.

A simple rule to follow: if you can count your employees using your fingers and toes and don't go over, why would you need the Sr.'s or Jr.'s or triple titles?

Another thing that really shined through during the conversation was how they stick to their business plan. They've been around for many years for this reason, and have adhered to some key rules:

1. Don't create a position to satisfy the next big thing in the industry if it doesn't fit within your overall plan, such as SEO Specialist or Social Media Coordinator. It may look good on paper, but if it's not producing revenue or satisfying client needs, let it go.

2. Partner with other agencies or individuals that offer a specialty you don't, so that you build trust with your clients. Let go of the idea that you can do anything, and be ready to offer solid alternatives that are somewhat within your control.

3. Hire people who are very accomplished in their chosen field, but who can also offer a variety of other skill sets that would compliment the business. An example would be a developer who might also be skilled at video production or social media strategy.

4. Don't act like a team. Be a team.

5. Don't be afraid to tell the client they're wrong. You are the expert, that's what they're paying you for, and if the partnership is strong, it will be appreciated.

6. Be accessible and be honest - to your coworkers, to your clients, to your staff, to your partners, to your vendors. Elitism and dishonesty have no business in this industry....any industry, really. Hey, let's go the distance and just say life in general.

I left my interview thinking that anyone would be lucky to be a part of that team.

Day Job Orchestra

The VO matches up perfectly. In honor of the impending new Star Trek movie...enjoy.

RESTAURANT REVIEW - BRANDT'S CAFE

Rating: 0 Stars (see below for ratings chart)

I just had the most disappointing experience at Brandts. I've never been less than satisfied there - they usually have such a great menu, decent service, and impeccable fare. Today was the exception - and it was a BIG exception.

We went there for lunch and were the only customers. The menu has gotten a lot smaller, and our waiter told us about the Cinco de Mayo specials. There was a roasted chicken taco special for $5, which sounded appetizing, and I ordered that. Here's where it gets really bad.

I received a plate with a few onions, a slice of lime, parsley, and something wrapped in tinfoil. I opened the tinfoil, and inside were three very small tacos wrapped in soft shells with plain chicken. No sauce. No queso. No sour cream. Nothing.

When I attempted to pick one up, the soft shell disintegrated in my hands. Were they old? Who knows. And since our waiter was MIA, I had to seek him out to ask for salsa and sour cream, as the chicken was so dry.

THEN....as I'm chewing my second piece of chicken, I notice that it's rubbery and mushy. I took it out of my mouth, and saw that it was a huge piece of fat. Upon further investigation, I found that all of the chicken slices had gobs of fat attached to them. Completely disgusting.

I couldn't finish the meal, it was just so terrible. Finally, when my coworker and I were finished, the waiter finally showed up and asked how everything was. I told him it the most terrible meal I've ever had at Brandts. He seemed unfazed by my comments, and I told him that if he continued to serve this dish, he probably wouldn't be getting much in the way of tips. Hint, hint.

He took our money, returned shortly, and told me that he had spoken with the chef, and I would be happy to know that they'll be fixing the dish.

Ok. Woohoo. So, how does that help me out? I just paid for a crappy meal.

The bill was $7.79. I gave my zombie of a waiter $7.80. I then proceeded to write the following on the receipt:

"I'm so very glad that the chef is fixing the dish. Hopefully then you'll have customers that want to tip you."

Idiot. I should have been comped for such an incredibly bad meal. I will never grace their doorstep with my presence again.

Word of mouth goes a long way.

***** Fantabulous! Run, don't walk, to this eatery!
**** Wowza - I didn't think it would be this good
*** Nothing special, but at least I'm full
** Is there a McDonalds around?
* This tripe is worse than what you get at Kram Fish
0 Run away....fast.

ICE CREAM MAN!!!!!

I remember seeing this in high school. Good times.

My New Favorite Band

This week....Crocodiles.

Enjoy.

Movie Review - The Wrestler

It just didn't hold my attention.

I'm not sure what the hype was about. Mickey Rourke buffs up to play an aged professional wrestler who scrapes by in life and his body (heart specifically) is running out of time. Blah, blah, blah.

It was mildly depressing, and not very interesting. I kept waiting for it to get better, but it never did.

Marissa Tomei looks great for someone who's 44. She was the highlight of the movie for me - why isn't she in more movies?

It was very difficult watching the mashed potato-face mess who used to be so handsome try to speak. It really kinda grossed me out.

I'll say it again - where did my Mickey go?

Before:


After:

Happy Star Wars Day

Apparently today is Star Wars day.

My brother owned, I think, EVERYTHING ever made for Star Wars. Every action figure, the Millennium Falcon, Tie Fighters, Death Star, the larger action figures (bigger than Barbies). I remember one Easter, instead of hiding eggs with money, my mom hid Star Wars action figures.

My favorite? The Jawa. He (it?) had a cloth robe-thing, and scary yellow glowing eyes.


I believe we went through 3 Chewbaccas. I recall one getting lost, and another getting run over by the big green wood-paneled Buick in the driveway.

I Hate Sunday Nights

As long as I can remember, Sunday nights are the worst. Absolute worst.

I think my hatred of Sunday nights started in grade school. I had to have my homework done, and since I always wait until the last minute, I usually had to scramble to get it finished. Or I had to pick out my clothes for the next day. Or I had to get to bed early, but it was still technically the weekend, and it didn't make any sense.

For awhile, in my late 20's, I tried to switch up that feeling by going out on Sunday nights, either to concerts or dancing. It was fun, but I really paid for it on Monday morning, and it took a couple days to catch up on sleep, and by then it was Wednesday. Kind of like shooting yourself in the foot to get out of hard labor, but then you have to limp for awhile.

It hits me around 6:00. I get the anxiety, did I get everything done, why did I laze about when I could have been cleaning, etc.?

And it never fails that I have a hard time getting to sleep at a normal hour on Sunday nights, so Monday workouts are a real chore. I'm usually all sleepy, crusty eyed and clumsy, so you could say I'm a danger to myself should free weights be involved (or swimming laps).

I would implore anyone reading this blog to share any remedy you might have in helping me to overcome my Sunday night blues. I'll consider anything - be creative. I'll give it a try.

As far as a weekend playlist goes, I am really digging Crocodiles. I also downloaded some music from Across The Universe, which I saw for the first time this weekend - very entertaining. I am not really into musicals, save for Sweeney Todd or Moulin Rouge, but I am a sucker for all things Beatles, and I thought it was an original way to tell the story of some of their songs.

Breaking Bread (Pudding)

It was an interesting night - my ex fiance, Tom, who happens to be one of my best friends, took me out for a beer and some Schlafly's bread pudding. There was a very decent country band playing, and while I'm not a huge fan of pickin', they played all original songs save for a "Wild Horses" cover, and they were good. Kind of set the mood for good conversation.

I'm not friends with any of my ex's - not that I have that many, but I wasn't able to (or in some cases wanted to) salvage any kind of relationship post-breakup. And perhaps that's for the better.

With Tom, things are different. I believe that we were meant to be friends - probably should have only been just friends, but that's neither here nor there. And yeah, we've had our rough patches as we've worked on our frienship - but we've managed to get through them, and have a unique, supportive and fun relationship. He's a very cool guy.

It was good to catch up and be happy for one another. Doing so over the city's best bread pudding makes for a great night.

Oh, and by the way, the picture attached looks EXACTLY like the bread pudding we had a Schlafly. Which is weird, because the last time I had it (around 2001) it was much more rich, with a darker, rummier sauce. I have to say I miss the original...

Ah....Hello Weekend

So glad to see you again. I missed you. It's been almost a week since I've had the pleasure. And I must say, you couldn't have come at a better time.

I have plans. Nothing wild. Mostly wet, by the looks of the gray skies, but that's alright. I'll gaze at the sky on my own time, when I want, as long as I want.

I WANT

1. Hoegaarden - one or six, it doesn't matter.

2. Sushi - this will take place in 1 hour 14 minutes. With saki.

3. A clean loft - halfway there.

4. No more frizzies - doubtful...not happening unless I shave my head.

5. Restitution - for many things.

6. A Swedish massage - if I play my cards right....hey, I'll take a foot rub, dammit.

7. To see a decent national band - if I have to wait for the Riverboat Gamblers or Gogol Bordello, I might scream. Why do most good bands skip the Lou?

I NEED:

1. Tickets to the Yeah Yeah Yeah's - yes, this is a NEED.

2. White chocolate - an I.V. if preferred.

3. To talk to my grandma - she has call waiting now, and just hangs up on people when she gets another call because she doesn't really know how to work it right. So, we need to finish our conversation.

4. Gas - petrol, not the kind that Beano solves.

5. To sleep in - but then I feel guilty for not working out at the crack of dawn. And then I feel guilty for feeling guilty. It's a vicious circle.

6. To make a joyful noise - still working out the mechanics of this one. Don't want to scare the neighbors, so this may need to be relocated.

7. To kickbox - I'm addicted. Thanks Margaret and Keyvan for reintroducing me to a long, lost love.